Firearm.



L. L., HEPBURN.

FIREARM. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 3, 1908.

. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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L. L. HEPBURN.

FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 190B. 918,447, Patented Apr; 13,1909.

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- L. HEPBURN.

FIREARM.

. I v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1908.

918,447. I Patented p 13, 1909.

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L. L. H EPBURN! FIREARM.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1908. 918,447. Patented Apr. 13,1909.

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qX i-bna-imwo v (Emmcwlkw LEWIS L. HEPBURN, or New h ves, com-sorrow, ASSIGNOR 'ooMPA iz, oF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A' oonronirrior or CONNECTICUT.

FIREARM.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, LEWIS L.'1IEPBU1N, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connect1cut,. have invented certain new and usefuli'linprovements in Firearms, of

which. the following is a full, clear, and-exa'ct description.

15. an improved feature of construction whereby if the trigger is inadvertently held back 'My invention relates to automatic fire arms, the object being to provide certain new and improved features of construction,

inore particularly directed to. a so-called closing spring, a breech bolt latch, a

magazine :cut-olf. and various emergency and safety devices. Among the latter is during the automatic action of the gun, the hammer will not 0 crate to discharge the .next cartridge'unti the trigger has been properly released and again drawn back.

The construction, operation and advantages; of this firearm will be well understood by a mechanic familiar with this-art from a reading of the following specification and an examination of the accompanying: drawn 's, 111 wlnch igure 1 is a side elevation of a firearm -constructed to embody my invention, the

forward end of the barrel and forearm being broken away and the rear end of the stock belng also broken away. 5 1g. 2 is a side elevat'ion of the interior mechanism in the same elevation'thereof.

osition as indicated. in Fig. 1, certainparts eing shownin section. Fig. 3 is a'siniilar view, certain parts being in a different position from that indicated in Fig; 2. Fig. 4

is a view-of the reverse side of thebreech bl0ck, and certain associated parts, detached.

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carrier. Fig. 7 'is a side Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sear. I Fig. 9 is an edge elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the trigger. Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryperspective view of the trigger action. Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a difierent position. Figs. 13 and 1d are inatic views of the same parts showing the same-in different positions. 7 elevation of the rear end of the forward sepa- Q-ra'ble section of the firearm.

Fig. 15 1s a side plan view of the forward end of the rear sepa- 'rable section of therfirearrn. Fig. 17 is a Fig. 16 is a Specification of Letters Patent. I v Patented April 13, 1969. Application filed Juries, 1968. Serial No. $6,333. 1

side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 16, also partlydn section. vation of a detached detail offconstruction.

lis the .breech-fra1ne. In'this particula? instance said frame is separable, whereby the gun may be readily taken d wn. ,the

construction of said take-down niechan isin being substantially such asset forth in my former patent No. 882,561, dated March 2is a barrel.

3 is the forearm, which may contain the well-known tubular magazine 4 arranged to hold cartridges in the usual manner to feed them successively rearwardlyinto the breechframe, there to be manipulatedby the cartridge -handling mechanism; hereinafter de scribed. j

" 5 represents a portion of the stock.

Fig. 18 isa side els To THE MARLIN-FIREARMS i 6 represents a tang so-called, which projects rearwardly from the rear reinforce: of

the breechefranieg and is housed within ab ore in the stock 5. This tang is hollow or tubular and contains therein a reciprocating plunger '7 and a so-called closing spring" S-pressmg said plunger 7 ahead.

9 is a reciprocating breech-block mounted in the receiver-frame -1, the normal position of the same being-.- advanced to close said.

breech, said advance-movement in this particular lnstance, and in the preferred form, being secured through the medium of an open-link 10, between said breech-block and plunger 7 whereby the influence ofthe 0103-1 ing spring 8 is transmitted to said breechthrown back and the trigger is stillheing'held down by the finger. p

19 is a trigger pivoted at.20. In'this instance, .by preference, the hook 17 v is formed upon the trigger. The sear 15 is pivoted at '21, while its-rear end'rests upon the tail of the trigger 19 so as to be tilted thei'eby.

23 is a spring-pressed cut-off, the same being arranged to project into the path of discharge of the cartridges in the magazine, until such time as it is desired to release a single cartridge from'said magazine to permit it to be forced back into the hreechframe for further manipulation by the mechanism therein.

The parts thus far described comprise the main features of construction, so that I may now refer to the operation of the arm, de scribing at the same time minor features of construction toenable one to observe and lea n precis ly h w the arm Qpfimtos.

Let us firstassume that the magazine i is filled with cartridges, and that the breechblock and various parts stand in the position indicated in Fig. 1. In this position, a ortion of the forward end of the breech-b ock rests on an incline at the rear side of the cutoff 23, so as to repress its nose from the path of the cartridges in the magazine. The usual follower-spring (not shown) forces the column of cartridgesrearwardly, so that the" rearmost one stands substantially in the position indicated in-Fig. 2, in which its rear end is checked by a stop shoulder 9 (Fig. 4) on the breech-block, While in this position,

the forward end of this cartridge still pro- 16. Upon releasing thehandle 9 thebreechblock moves forwardly under the action of the closing spring 8. On this forward excursion the forward end of the carrier 11, is lifted by means of a spring-pressed stud 9 coactingwith an incline 11 on the rear end of the carrier 11. This movement of the carrier elevates the cartridgethereon to position in front of the advancing breech-block 9, by which means said cartridge is forced into the chamber of barrel 2. It should be stated that the very first rearward movement of thebreech-block 9 permits the spring lifted cu se to r se befoie a succeeding cartridge can escape from the magazine, the nose of said cut-off holding back all the cartridges in the magazine, save the one be ing handled by the automatic mechanism. As soon, however, as the breech-block reaches its forward position, and has introduced the first-mentioned cartridge freely into the chamber of the barrel, the cut-oil 23 is again operated to release another single cartridge from the magazine, so that 1t, in

turn, would assume the position indicated in dotted'lines, Fig. .2. The firearm is now loaded. By ulling trigger l9, sear 15 is released i'rom tiiahammer, which latter springs ahead and strikes against the firing pin (not shown) carried by the breech-block 9, ex-

loding the cartridge in the chamber of the Barrel. The blow-back or recoil of the cartridge in the barrel forces the breech; block 9 rearwardly,the force of the recoil beint, substituted for the manual power first described. 'The rearward excursion of the breech-block withdraws the empty shell, which is duly ejected, the extractor and ejecting mechanism being of any well-known pattern, no claim of novelty being predicated thereon herein. On the next advance of the breech-block, the cartridge on the carrier is lifted into position, and forced into the barrel, and simultaneously another cartridge in the magazine is released to take its position upon the carrier, as previously de scribed.

As already stated, the construction of the carrier is substantially such as set fol-thin my former patents and need not be described at length herein, it being merely necessary to mention that as soon as the stud 9 on the breech-liilock has performed its function of tilting the cr'trrier, it clears the incline 11 and approaches a second incline 11 at the side of the carrier, up which incline it rides, said stud receding so as to rest upon the side of the carrier. The advance of the breechblock at this time engages the carrier positively and forces its forward and down, so that its platform will be in position to re ceive the next succeeding cartridge from the magazine the moment the breech-block has reached the liinit of its forward. movement and has operated the cut-off 23.

,If, by madvertancc, the operator of the gun. has held back the trigger 19 during a full automatic action of the breech mechanism following the discharge of a cartridge, the hook 17 stands in a position to catch and hold backthe hammer 12 (see Fig. 3), so that by no chance can the hammer advance when the breech-block advances or until it has been released in the proper manner. As will be seen, the sear 15 (in Fig. 3) does not engage in the notch 16 in the hammer in case the trigger is draml back, but when the trigger is released from the position shown, the sear 15 will be tilted (under the action of its spring) so as to be ready to engage in said notch 16 just as hook 17 releases said hammcr. It follows from the-above that the hammer is held back at each action of the automatic parts, and, since it requires a rcleasing of the trigger and a separatepull thereon for the discharge of each successive carktlridge, safety in this respect is guarantee.

If, for any reason, it becomes desirable to hold the breech block open, Iv provide a simple and effective means therefor, CUIll-r prising a horizontally pivoted manually op' erable latch plate 99 nioinitedivertically in the handle 9' To loci; the breech block back, this latch is merely depressed to cu gage in notch 1- in the frame I (see Fig. 1).

long as the latch 9 stands in notch l, the block 9 is held back against the forward '1 impulse of the closing spring 8. To release the breech block, the latch is pressed? vupwardly.

. A further safety device for the trigger may also be employed. This device comprises a pivotally mounted handle 24, the inner end 7 of the handle pivot having a lug 25, which,

' by turning said handle, may be brought into of the trigger (see Fig. 2),, so that said trigger position over an offset or tail'22 at the rear cannot be pulled. v By swinging the handle 24 into the position indicatedin dotted lines (Fig. 1) the lug 25 is moved away from the tail 22,,thus freeing said trigger.

It should be noted that the location of the closing spring 8 is particularly advanta' geous, and, indeed, very economical, since they tang 6 performs not only ltsiusual func-' t-ion as a connector for the stocktothe rear reinforce, but also performs the second functron of 'a container for said closmg spring and its associated plunger 7. Furthermore,

by this arrangement thadii'ection of the action of said spring relatively to the line of movement of the breechgblock -is very ett'b cient in that it reduces toa minimum, and

indeed practically eliminates, undue wear,

side strain and a tendency to cramp or. bind the block Within the breech frame. This is due to the fact that the line of force is applied directly behind and almost directly in the line of reciprocation of the'breech-block.

The usualconnecting screw 7 entering inthe usual way from therear end of the stock connects the latter with the rear end of I desire toparticularly emphasize the fewness of parts, the simplicity of the same, and the access ble and superior "arrangement thereof, since, to the successful automatic firearm these features are of theutmost iniportance'.

In F'g. .12 have shown the position of the hammer as it"appears cooked, the gun being loaded ready for-firing. On comparing this view with Fig. 3, it will be seen that the trigger 19 hasbeenreleased, so that hook 17 has-freed the hammer 12, which has been allowed; to spring forward until the front end of scar 15- stands in engagement with the notch in the hub of the hammer; Ingthis osition the breech-block is advanced, a

oaded' shell is shown in dotted outline inthe charnberof the barrel, another on the carrier;

and a-preceding one in the magazine. In

actual practice it is preferable that in the majority of instances one could'not pull the ha'nnncr in the cocked position without the.

,plunger 7 will be held by pin 7 in such a position that the said separable parts may be placed together quickly without difficulty. "Were itnot that the plunger is provided 'ing spring with the breech-block upon the triggerand release the same quick enough to .eliniinate the action of the hook 17, but in such instances obviously the sear 1 5 will work in the intended manner to engage the assistance of such-hook. The presence of the I latter, however, guarantees safety.

Allfiillfii' feature of invention to which I. desire to call attention is the en plo ment of only a single spring for restoring oth the sear 1,5 and trigger 19 to the'normal position in which. the sear would engage the hammer and the trigger would be in the advanced position ready 7 to pull. This action is brought about by the'fiatbearing which the sear 15 takes upon the trigger to the rear of the pivot/20. By this 1neans, when the sear 15 tends to resume its normal position, it at once moves the trigger 19 to the position indicated in Fig. 12. v I

The take-down construction Will best be understood by referring to, Figs, '15 to 17, in which it will be seen that the line of division upon which the receiver or breech frame may be separated extends longitudinally thereof; Q0 forming; therebythe two separable side plates A and B. -T'lie side plate B lrasthepart 13 adapted to engage in a recessA. of the other I separable section, and .itlSO has a part 1'13 adapted to engage in a recessAfin the other separable section, so that when the two separable parts are placed togetherthey will be held 'tirmly againstdisplacement, the final connection being effected by a thumb screw C carried by one part and arranged to take into the other part. A further detailed description is unnecessary, in view of the disclosure in the former patent referred to.

It will be seen that although the separate parts of the firearm maybe taken downythe with means for limiting its forward excursion When'the gun takendown, it would be exceedingly ditlicult, if notimpo'ssible, to assemble the parts. It. should be understood that the particular forni of limiting means to permit the connection of thc clcs putting together of the gun is-not essential to this invention, but may bemodified. in a variety of ways.

What I claim is; v

1. In an automatic repeating firearm, a

l':arr el, astock, a breech frame, a reciprocatvmg breech-block therein, a tang prtqecting rearwardly. from said frame and located centrally nsa dstockya'nd a closing-spring carried Within said tang and operatively connected with said bi'GGGlR-wlllfitfli, and nieansto limit the forward GXQLU'SIOH of said connecting means,

2. In an automatic repeating firearm, a

its

breech-home, a reciprocating breech-block, a stock carried thereby, a'slotted tang projecting rearwardly from said frame and centrally into said stock, and a closing spring inclosed within said tang, a plunger connection between said spring and breech-block, and a pin on said plunger projecting into the slot of the tang to limit the excursion of saidplunger in saidtang.

3. In a repeating firearm, a breech frame, a magazine leading into the same, a car trid e cut oif for said magazine, a breechbloc movable in said breech'frame and cooperating directly with said cut-off to release a cartridge in the magazine when said breech-block is in its closed position, a rigid stop shoulder on said breech-block to check at such time any cartridge released from the magazine and before it is wholly discharged therefrom, and a carrier arranged to receive and support such cartridge at such time.

4. In a repeating firearm, a breech frame, a magazine leading into the same, a cartridge cut-off for said magazine, a breech-block movable in said breech frame and cooperating directly with said cut-off to release a car tr] e in the magazine when said breechbloc is in its closed position, a stop shoulder on said breech-block to check at such time any cartridge released from the magazine and before it has been wholly discharged therefrom, a carrier arranged to receive an support such cartridge at such time, and means carried by the breecl'i-block for operating said carrier.

5. In an automatic repeating firearnnn breech frame,'a breech-block movable therein, a hammer, a trigger, and two independent hammenengaging means operable by said trigger, one means being carried by said triger and engaging the hammer away from its ub, the other engaging said hammer at its hub.

6. In an automatic repeating firearm, a hammer, a trigger, and two independent hammer-engaging means operable by said trig er and arranged to engage the hammer at, ifi'erent t mes, and at diiierent partsv thereof one of said hammer engaging means being integral with said trigger.

'7. In an automatic repeating firearm, a pivoted hammer and Sl)l'lllgl)ll55i?(l sear for engaging said hammer in its cocked position at its hub, a trigger for operating said scar and a second hammer-engaging device carried by said trigger for catching the hammer away from its hub on the recoil and 'l' or holding' said hammer against advance movement prior to the engagement of the latter by said sear.

8. In an automatic repeating firearm, a hammer, a trigger, a sear arranged to engage said hammer at its hub to hold it retracted, and a second hammer-en aging means carried upon and controlled by saidtrigger for dgaging said hammer in a cock engaging and holding said hamm away from its hub reparatory to engagement thereof by the sear.

9. Inan automatic repeating firearm, a hammer, a trigger, means for automatically repressing or eoehin said hammer, means carried by and oontrdllablc by the trigger for engaging the hammer away from its ub and holding said hammer retracted While said trigger is drawn back, and a second ll fiitns separate from the first mentioned means for engagin said cocked hammer, to hold the latter w lllO said trigger is in its normal position, both of said means being operable by said trigger.

10. In an automatic repeating ii reai'l'n, a sprin actuated pivoted hammer, a movabl breec -block arranged to repress or,cock" said hammer, a spring pressed trigger, means controllable by said tri ger to engage said hammer away from its hu While cooked and while saidtrigger is draw back, and a second means to engage said repressed hammer at its hub when said trigger is released,

11. In an automatic firearm, a hammer and means for repressing or cocking the same, a trigger, a latch carried thereby and arranged to enga c said hammer when th latter is represse and While t e trigger drawn back, a spring'presaed sear cooperate. ing with and operated by said trigger for ens 0 position when the latter is released by said latch upon an advance of the trigger.

12. In an automatic fi m, a hammer and means for re TBSSiDg or cooking th same, a trigger, a etch carried thereby and arranged to engage said hammer when the latter is represse a" spring ressed sear cooperating with and operatcd by said trigg r for engaging said hammer in a cooke 'osition when the latter is released by said atch upon. the advance of the trigger, said hammer making a partial forward movement after being released by said latch and before being engaged by said sear. i

13. In an automatic repeating take-down firearm, a barrel, a stock, a-divided breech frame, one part being connected to the BtQck, the other part being connected to the barrel, a reciprocating breech-block carried by one section of said breech "frame, a tang projecting rcarwardly from the other section of said breech frame and embedded in said stock, it closing spring carried Within said tang, a plunger operated by said spring and carried within said tang and a means for limiting the forward excursion of said plunger, and means for operatively connecting said plunger with said breech-block when said parts are assembled, and means for connecting and disconnecting the two separable parts of the breech frame to permit said barrel and stock to be connected and disconnected.v

14. In an automatic repeating take-down necting and firearm,- a receiver divided longitudinally permit the barrel and stock portion to be separated by lateral movement of one part re ativ'ely to the other, a reciprocating -'.'breech- -block carried .by one of the separable sections of said firearm,v a closing sprm carried by'the other separable section 0 .said

Lfirearm, and means for'permitting said clossprin and breech-block to be. operatively connecte simultaneously with the connectof the two .parts of the divided receiver these aration of saidpart s 15. a an automatic re eating take-down and to be disconnected simultaneously with firearm, a receiver divide longltudinally to constitute, two separable side plates unclos-.

ing when assembled the breech mechanism, a reciprocating breech-block carried by one of the separable sections of said-firearm, a closmg spring carried by the other se arablesection of said firearm, and means or mitting said closing spring and breech-b ock to be operativ'ely connected and disconnected simultaneousgswith and by the act of conconnecting, respectivel the two separable take-down-sections 0 said 81111.

' 16. "In an automatic'repe'ating take-down. firearm,v a-barrel and a stock, a receiver or breech-frame comprisin two separable' one part being carrie by the barre ,[therts,

other .part being carried by the stock, breech mechanismcarried partly by one portion, of

. said breech'frame and partly by the other ortion of said breech frame, and including a reech-block and hammer carried by that portion of thebreech'frame connected to the arrel, and a breech-block closin springand trigger carried .1) that portion 0 the breech-- frame connects to the stock, and means for connecting and disconnecting said arts of the breech-frame and breech-mec anism,

whereby said barrel and stock may. be connected and disconnected.

- position.

17.- 'In an automatic repeating take-down firearm, a barrel and a stock, a receiver or breech-frame comprising two separable parts,

one part being carried by the barrel the other part being carried by the stock, breech-. mechanism carried partly by one portion of said breech-frame and partly b the other portion-of said breech-frame, an including a reech-block and hammer carried b that ortion of the breech-frame connecte by said barrel and stock may be connected Ward excursion of the closing spring to perinit the parts to be readily connected.

' 18; In an automatic repeating takedown firearm," a barrel, a stock, .a breech-frame or receiver divided lon itudinally into two sep- 1 and disconnected, and means to limit'the for- I arable sections, the orward extremity of one section projectin beyond the rearward extremity-ofthe ot er section to reinforce the line of connection of said parts when assembled in operative relation, automaticbreech.

operating mechanism carried by said receiver, part-of said mechanism beingcarried by one of the separable sections of said receiver, the balance of said automatic breech mechanism being carried 'by the other separable section of the receiver, means forzconnectlng and disconnectmg thetwo separable sectlons of the receiver, and means for operatively connecting the various operative parts.

of the automatic 'breech mech'anism by the act of connecting and securingthe two sep- LEW-IS L.IHEPBURN'.F Witnesses:

E. VISiEL,

CLIFFORD B. WALKER.

a:'able sections of said receiver in operative 

